Mayors, 1869-1890

Seattle was again incorporated, this time as a city, by an act of the Territorial Legislature on December 2, 1869. The City's first mayor, Henry A. Atkins, was appointed by the Legislature pending the first City election scheduled for July 1870. The City Charter, granted by the Legislature, set the Mayor's term of office at one year. Elections were held on the second Monday in July.

Henry A. Atkins Term Began 12/2/1869 & 7/11/1870 Republican. Appointed by the Territorial Legislature pending the town’s first election.

John T. Jordan Term Began 7/31/1871 No Party Affiliation.

Corliss P. Stone Term Began 7/29/1872 Republican. Stone left the city before his term ended.

John T. Jordan Term Began 4/5/1873 No Party Affiliation. Jordan was appointed acting mayor to serve until a special election could be held to fill out the term.

Moses R. Maddocks Term Began 6/5/1873 Republican. Maddocks was elected to serve the final two months of Stone’s term.

John Collins Term Began 8/3/1873 Democrat.

Henry L. Yesler Term Began 8/2/1874 Republican.

Bailey Gatzert Term Began 8/2/1875 Independent.

Gideon A. Weed Term Began 7/31/1876 & 7/30/1877 No Party Affiliation.

Beriah Brown Term Began 7/29/1878 People’s Ticket.

Orange Jacobs Term Began 8/3/1879 Republican.

Leonard P. Smith Term Began 8/2/1880 & 8/1/1881 Republican.

Henry G. Struve Term Began 7/31/1882 & 7/30/1883 Republican.

John Leary Term Began 8/3/1884 Business Men’s Ticket

Henry L. Yesler Term Began 8/3/1885 Republican.

William H. Shoudy Term Began 8/2/1886 People’s Party.

Thomas T. Minor Term Began 8/1/1887 Republican.

Robert Moran Term Began 7/30/1888 & 7/29/1889 Republican

Harry White Term Began 8/3/1890Republican. White served an abbreviated term prior to adoption of a new City charter.